Oh, yesterday was amazing. We went to Toronto for the Veg Fest, and we hung out with PPKers lobsteriffic, seitanicverses and Tea. And I met Moon! She yelled out "paprikapapayaaaaa" from across the place. And then I got donuts from PPKer chimrichalds' bakery and they were incredible. And we saw Taymer Mason's food demo and it was great. And I had a mac and cheese burrito. Ahhhhh.

_________________Did you notice the slight feeling of panic at the words "Chicken Basin Street"? Like someone was walking over your grave? Try not to remember. We must never remember. - mumblesIs this about devilberries and nazifruit again? - footface

are you back home, imogen? hope your trip back was uneventful if not superb.

my best thing is that i have committed to using speech recognition for at least a third of my work by the end of the year (ok, so my professional development goal is 9 months late, but it took me a while to find a PD goal i liked that didn't involve me learning/purchasing/using software I hate). i did my end-of-month calculations last month and realized that at the rate i'm going, my carpal tunnels are going to quit. so i just bought some software and a really good mike setup, and training the damn thing will be this week's extra time project. along with cooking all the warming food, since it's colder than heck here today.

YEAH. Get this. Mac and cheese, cut up veggie dogs, fried potatoes, chili aioli. With tamarind-habanero hot sauce on the side. It was forking incredible.

_________________Did you notice the slight feeling of panic at the words "Chicken Basin Street"? Like someone was walking over your grave? Try not to remember. We must never remember. - mumblesIs this about devilberries and nazifruit again? - footface

i have made some modifications (use soba noodles to make it whole grain, add a serving of chopped kale to the pasta water when there is a minute to go) and this mac and peas is really the best thing about many, many of my days. if you're a dope like me and waited two years to try mac and peas, don't wait any longer.

Hanging out with my kid. Every day is amazing because of her. Today we ate giant vegan muffins at the Farmer's Market, then hung out with friends and just generally enjoyed this wonderful warm weather.

This is such a sweet post :)

_________________When people ask about my plans for after graduation: "PhD in knitting blanket forts, bisque!" -Mars

It gets even better... if I can't get one of the Chattanooga slots, I have the option of claiming a spot in the 2014 Florida race, which is the "easiest" Ironman course in North America. It wasn't on my radar because just about the only way to get in is to volunteer at it (volunteers get guaranteed registration for the following year) and that wasn't going to be possible this year because I am already going to AZ to volunteer at that race two weeks later. So, maybe I will get Chattanooga but if not, I should have my choice between FL and AZ. Florida might honestly be the best choice for me... But one way or another, I'mma do an Ironman next year!

Oh, I might go up for that one!

This is in Panama City, right? Ppk meetup!

Yay! Toby and I would travel up the coast for that! Monkeytoes, Toby is now taller than I am.

_________________A whole lot of access and privilege goes into being sanctimonious pricks J-DubDessert is currently a big bowl of sanctimonious, passive aggressive vegan enduced boak. FezzaYou people are way less funny than Pandacookie. Sucks to be you.-interrobang?!

Lunch bought by my boss! At the food truck nearby which is always really good about veg food even if they don't offer an explicitly vegan option. blackbean hummus that was savory and sweet on amazingly delicious bread. YUM YUM.

_________________"Vegan to me means Oreos for breakfast." -Poopiebitch"tl;dr: I quit working to drink beer paid for with gift cards" erikasoyf*cker

Finally caught mom on the phone. Grandma's been moved to a full time care center for the week. After that, there's a re-eval: maybe she stays there, maybe she goes to the hospice-covered hospice home nearish by. Grandma sounds like she can finally relax (all her needs are met, except for puppy loves -- that can now only happen when mom + pup visit), and mom sounds relieved. I am continually impressed by how my caregiving-allergic mom is handling this very caregiving-stressful situation. She couldn't handle it for a long time, but since May (I think?) she's been getting gold stars in my book.

Anyway, my best thing is hearing that they are both relieved / are getting their needs met. (Also, continually, that grandma is HIV-. See the 'worst things thread' for info on that particular scare.)

i have made some modifications (use soba noodles to make it whole grain, add a serving of chopped kale to the pasta water when there is a minute to go) and this mac and peas is really the best thing about many, many of my days. if you're a dope like me and waited two years to try mac and peas, don't wait any longer.

I went to the health food store and found GoMaxGo bars, EB cheesy popcorn, and fancy flavored olive oil on sale. I got a lemon olive oil and orange olive oil for half off. Plus, they had agar agar powder, so now i don't have to wait for my mom to get it for me from Amazon. I will be making cheesey goodness in no time.

_________________lack toast intolerant: intolerant of not having toast